Electric ignition apparatus.



H. G. OSBURN.

ELECTRIC IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION NLRB 0011, 190a.

978,1 97. Patented Dec. 13, 191(1 I Hibzessasfl fnz/entor'."

HARRY G. OSBURN, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC IGNITION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed October 1, 1908. Serial No. 455,592.,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY G. OsnuRN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful linprovements in Electric Ignition Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, con cise, and exact description, reference benig had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrici 'nition ap )aratus for explosive engines and the like, the principal object of the invention being economy in the use of current.

As electric ignition apparatus is usually arranged, if the engine happens to stop at a point at which the contacts of the mechanical timing deviceywhich makes aud breaks the circuit in unison with the beats of the engine, remain in contact with each other, the curr ntwill continue to flow through the primary winding of the induction coil until such time as the engine started again or such time as a hand operated switch is opened. By the use of my invention, if the engine should stop at such a point that the contacts of the timing device are in contact with each other, the lowresistance primary circuit is automatically opcned by the action of a magnet which is provided for that purpose, the winding of this n'iagnct having a resistance 'so high that even though the current continue to pass through this winding for a considerable length of time no harm will b done, as the current which can pass through this winding Willbe comparatively small. Furthermore, in theordinary running of the engine the consumption of current is small when my improved apparatus is used because of the fact that the circuit through the primary winding of the induction coil is closed but once, and for an instant only, during each cycle of the engine, if it be a singlecylinder engine, or once during each cycle of each cylinder in the case of a multi-cylinder engine.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a form of apparatus embodying my invention, the figure being of a diagrammatic nature.

Referring to the drawing, 10 is the core of the induction coil, 11 bein the primary winding and 12 the secon ary winding thereof. One terminal of the primary win ing 11 is connected by means of wire 13 with one pole of the battery 14 and from the other pole of the battery leads a wire 15 to the Contact 16 of a rotary timing device.

The cam 17 of the timing device is carried' on a revolvin shaft 18 and is so arran ed that the circuit is closed through the timlng device at the time when the charge in the cylinder of the engine should be ignited. From the second contact 19 of the timing device leads a wire 20 to a circuit breaker which comprises an arm 21 pivoted between its ends at 22'and carrying an armature 23 upon one of its ends and another armature 24 upon its opposite end. The armature 23 is arranged to be attracted by the core 10 of the induction coil when current flows through the primary thereof. A spring 25 tends to swing the lever 21 about its pivot 22 in a direction to carry the armature 23 away from the core of the induction coil. The lever 21 carries a contact spring 26 which. when no current is passing, engages a contact' such as a screw 27. The spring 25 is secured to a screw or the like 28 to which the end of the wire 20 is connected, while the primary winding of the induction coil is similarly connected to the screw 27.

With the parts in the positions shown in the figure the circuit which includes the primary winding of the coil, the battery, the tim 1g device and the circuit breaker is open. When the cam of the timing device revolves tw such a position as to close therontacts thereof to gether, this circuit is established and the core of the induction coil draws the armature 23 to itself, thus breaking the circuit at the circuit breaker between the spring 26 and the point of the screw 27. With the arrangement ordinarilyv employed heretofore,

this breaking of the circuit would cause the armature to be drawn back from the core of the induction coil by the spring 25, whereupon the circuit would be reestablished and whereb a trembling or vibrating movement would e iven to the armature and the circuit woul be rapidly broken and reestablished during the period in which the contacts'of the mechanical timin device remained in contact. This would result in a series of sparks being thrown between the contact points of the spark plug, whereas a single spark is all that is required, to effect the i nition of the explosive mixture in the cylin erof the en ine.

In the system 0 apparatus illustrated in the figure the reestablishment of the circuit immediately after the breaking thereof by the movement of the armature toward the core of the coil is prevented. This result is accomplished by the provision of an electromagnet 28 which is arranged to exert its force upon the armature 24; carried by the lever21. Thewinding of this magnet is connected at one end by means of the wire 29 with one pole of the battery 14', the opposite end of the winding being connected by means of the wire 30 with the wire .20

which leads from the contact 19 of the me chanical timing device. \Vhen the primary circuit is closed through the mechanical timing device, the battery, the primary winding of the coil and the contacts of the circuit breaker, a circuit is also completed through the timing device, the battery and the winding of the magnet 28. This magnet thereupon attracts the armature 24 to itself and continues to hold the same in its attracted position after the primary circuit has been broken by the separation of the contacts 26 and 27 ofthe circuit breaker, thereby preventing, for a time, reestablishment of the primary circuit. r

The wind'ng of the magnet 28 has a resistance much greater than that of the primary circuit, so that if it should happen that the engine stops with the timing device in such position that its contacts are left closed, but a very small quantity of current would continue to pass through the magnet winding, this current being so small as to. be practically of no account. In,this Way any practically objectionable Waste of current is obviated, in case the contacts of the timing device remain in engagement with each other for an extended time. Furthermore, during the runningof the engine, the circuit breaker is not permitted to vibrate as is the case in older forms of apparatus, but as soon as the primary circuit 1s broken the magnet 28 holds the contacts 26 and 27 apart and prevents the further passage of current through the induction coil until the contacts of the timing device have opened and thereby out 01f the current from the magnet 28, thus permitting the contacts 26 and 27 to come together again.

Bridged across the contacts 26 and 27 is a condenser 31. One end of the secondary winding of the induct-ioncoil is also connected to one end of the condenser, the other end of this winding being connected by means of the wire 32 with one of the contacts of the spark plug 33. The other contact of the spark plug is connected by means of wire 34; with the wire 20, which leads to one of the contacts of the circuit breaker. This wiring system, as far as it relates to the secondary or sparking circuit, is well understood and requires no extended explanation.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

The combination of a timing device; an induction coil in circuit therewith; a circuit breaker consisting of an arm pivoted between its ends and so dis osed that one end can'be attracted by said Induction coil and a fixed contact engaging said arm when the latter is "in its non-attracted position; and an electromagnet of high resistance arranged in operative relation with the other end of said arm to hold the circuit breaker open Whfn it has been attracted by said induction C01 I In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY G. osBURN;

W'itnesses:

LOUIS P. MUFFAT, JOHN V. TRoLLorn. 

